Trillanes calls Ducut, ERC incompetent

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Zenaida-Ducut. FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday said Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Zenaida-Ducut seemed to know nothing about the power industry as he lambasted the agency for being incompetent and unable to protect the consumers from power price increases.

The statement came a day after Ducut attended a Senate hearing on the recent power rate increase imposed by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

“Based on their answers yesterday (Wednesday), they seem to be incompetent about their job,” Trillanes said over Inquirer Radio 990AM.

The senator said Ducut, who is also being accused of being involved in the “pork barrel scam,” “didn’t know anything about the power industry.”

“It showed yesterday… It’s just too bad that she was placed there to head the principal regulatory body that would guard or protect the interest of the consumers,” he said.

Trillanes said the ERC, which is mandated to promote competition and penalize abuse of market power, had been remiss of its duties.

“It’s very clear that the ERC did not protect the interest of the consumers. It’s very clear in the statements yesterday (they were not able) to control the market, to intervene when there [were] readings or red flags on collusion,” he said.

Last month, Meralco announced the increase in generation costs during the Malampaya natural gas plant’s month-long maintenance shutdown. With the shortage of natural gas, power plants had to shift to the more expensive liquid fuel. The distribution utility also augmented their energy supply through the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), which bases its price on the movement of the market.

Shortly after, the ERC approved Meralco’s staggered rate hike of P4.15 per kilowatt-hour spread over the months of December, February and March.

The issue of collusion was raised after it was revealed that several power plants shut down for unscheduled maintenance, further aggravating the energy supply problem.  During the Senate hearing, it was also mentioned that some of these power generators were players in the WESM.

Nevertheless, Trillanes said he is still waiting for the result of the Department of Energy’s investigation on the matter.

He said he wanted a “technical investigation,” as well as the list of power producers who transacted with the WESM at the time of the Malampaya shutdown.

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